The problem with visiting Pinghsi on this night, as with Yenshui, is the sheer mass of people. The carriages taking revelers up the mountain from Rueifang train station to the Pinghsi terminal are crowded, so the more rambunctious climb in the windows and hang from the doorways. Going up the mountain by car, while a great deal more comfortable, can be frustrating as the mountain road is choked with traffic. Your best bet is to arrive early -- long before sunset when the lanterns are let loose -- and either leave early if taking the train, or stay late if you've come by car. None of this, however, should put you off of one of the most divine sights to be seen in Taiwan. The fun started yesterday and will run for a week, ending on Lantern Festival night.
Somewhere between heaven and hell is Taipei (limbo?), where residents are treated to the annual Lantern Festival activities held in and around Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. Each year, a giant lantern of the year's zodiac animal is lit to much fanfare. While the monkey overlooking the memorial hall looks like something out of Planet of the Apes it's by no means the only sight to see. As with years past, Aiguo East Road and Xinyi Road will be lined with large lanterns of various themes, made by local schools, businesses and organizations. Several of the lanterns will come from abroad.
A special feature this year will be a "Tunnel of Lights" incorporating the underground walkway from CKS Memorial Hall MRT station to Ximen station on Zhonghua Road, where the Taipei City Government plans to have graffiti and student paintings on display.
The hullabaloo will all take place on Thursday, but for those wanting to avoid crowds, the displays will all remain through Sunday, Feb. 15. Some 100,000 handheld monkey lanterns -- the kind children swing at each other -- will be given away starting at 3pm from Thursday to Sunday this coming week.
Taking the MRT is the best way to get to CKS Memorial Hall while the displays are lit as traffic controls will be in place through Feb. 14. Speaking of Feb. 14, the lantern display along the memorial hall makes for a romantic Valentine's Day stroll. And you thought the holiday season was over!
RSS